At Chapter 171, Eddie Dennis declared that his match against Luke Jacobs might be his final shot at the PROGRESS World Championship. However, that chance was ended not by Jacobs, but by Tate Mayfairs, who threw in the towel to prevent further damage.
Reflecting on that moment, Dennis admits his initial anger, feeling he wanted to go out on his shield if this was his last stand. But, after watching the footage, he acknowledges that perhaps Tate acted with good intentions, pulling him out before serious harm occurred. The decision has left Dennis conflicted, as he balances his instinct as a competitor with the reality of what might have been…
At Chapter 171, you mentioned that your match against Luke Jacobs might be your last chance at the PROGRESS World Championship, but it ended with Tate Mayfairs throwing in the towel. How did that decision sit with you after the match?
Tate claims that he had my best interests at heart. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s be honest, Luke was kicking my head in and I wasn’t intelligently defending myself. In the moment I was angry. If Chapter 171 was going to be my last stand then I wanted to go out on my shield. But, when I watch the footage back, maybe Tate was right, maybe I needed someone to get me out of there in one piece.
Post-show, Tate Mayfairs expressed that he felt like your reaction to his actions was dismissive, almost as if you threw his sympathy back in his face. How do you respond to that?
I hope he doesn’t still feel that way. Looking back I can see that he was acting out of love. But in the moment all I knew is that I was in a fight, and then I wasn’t. I saw the towel, saw Tate’s face, and realised what had happened. All I could think was that once again Tate was trying to decide that I don’t having anything left to offer. Only I can decide that.
Tate has now concocted this tag team match as a test to prove you meant what you said about seeing the good in him. With him making you pick him over your long time friends SUBCULTURE, do you feel this is an understandable challenge from Tate?
After the way the last show ended having Tate suddenly want to team up wasn’t on my bingo card. But I thought about all the time we’ve spent together outside of the ring and about how that realistically overshadows anything that’s happened between us in the ring, and I was 100% on board. Then it was announced that it was against Flash and Mandrews, so now I don’t know what to think.
Have you been training together as this will be your first tag together – especially as you are up against a well-oiled machine in SUBCULTURE?
Training?!?! I’m a full time school teacher, the only training I do is very much ‘on the job’ training with regards wrestling at this point.
Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster have shared their thoughts about this match and your involvement with Tate. Did you read their interviews and how do you respond to their comments?
Again, full time teacher, so no, I haven’t read their comments. I speak to Flash and Mark on a daily basis though so I know they’re excited to be back in the Ballroom. Me and Mark especially have some serious history together in PROGRESS, and let’s be honest, not all of it is friendly! At the end of the month, I guess we’re getting another chapter in that story.
With the World Championship seemingly out of reach for now, does a run with Tate Mayfairs as “FSU 2.0” genuinely feel like the next chapter for you? Or do you see your future differently after Chapter 172?
I’d love to team with Tate Mayfairs more moving forward if this show goes well. As far as FSU 2.0, that was something I said in the spur of the moment, and let’s be honest, it’s a terrible name! If me and Tate end up doing this dance a few more times then we’ll go back to the drawing board for a name I think!
PROGRESS Wrestling tickets are available for all future shows via the dice app, including this October’s event WEREWOLVES OF LONDON featuring Eddie Dennis & Tate Mayfairs vs SUBCULTURE. See you on Sunday, October 27th!
You can see all of Eddie Dennis’ matches in PROGRESS Wrestling, including his run in this year’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament by subscribing to DEMAND PROGRESS PLUS. Watch wrestling online anywhere, anytime with our huge library of PROGRESS Wrestling events, best ofs and specials.
